Oct 28 letters to the editor

The paper's endorsement of Pinole councilmen Roy Swearingen and Peter Murray, without giving candidate Ivette Ricco due consideration, leaves me wondering how it reaches that decision.

After interviewing the three candidates, the paper's primary reason for endorsing the incumbents is their ability to balance Pinole's endemic ailing budget. That incorrectly assumes that balancing a budget is the only criteria for good city governance.

It is only one factor that should be considered when an endorsement is given. It fails to consider important factors like past performance, comprehensive leadership and a pragmatic vision for the future.

Likewise, the endorsement ignores that Pinole's current leadership is partly to blame for its present economic crisis. It unjustly implies that electing Ricco would result in "more political turmoil." How it reaches this conclusion without supporting facts, raises doubt about the paper's ability to vet any candidate for office.

Don't be swayed by flawed endorsements that give inaccurate information to the voting public.

David O. Ruport

Pinole

Obama's cover-up on Libya can't be excused

A campaign-obsessed President Barack Obama might be excused from knowing about the need for additional security in Libya despite earlier serious consulate attacks and a request for additional security made before the deadly assault on Sept. 11.

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What cannot be excused is the post attack cover-up. The Obama administration strongly promoted a politically-inspired narrative that the killings grew spontaneously out of a anti-Muslim video protest. That account has now been thoroughly discredited.

Obama attempted to downplay for more than a week what our State Department knew clearly and immediately: that Benghazi was a premeditated, highly organized terror attack conducted by al-Quada-linked terrorists. Obama's attempted deception was both unconscionable and outrageous.

Jim Hartman

Berkeley

Singleton is the best choice for Congress

A recent article regarding one of our congressional races is insulting to any challenger and the voters of Congressional District 13.

The message is if you don't have $1 million or have held the office for 14 years, don't bother running. After all, Barbara Lee hasn't had to "lift a finger to campaign" in a long time. Maybe that's the problem.

Ask the voters how happy they are about the unemployment rate, the poor rating of their schools, the business climate, and the crime rate. Lee has held political office in this area for 22 years, yet these problems persist. Is this progress?

Marilyn Singleton wants to work with both sides of the aisle to empower people. She has put her money where her mouth is, and is willing to toil on against long odds because she thinks the people of District 13 are worth it.

Singleton grew up in a poor neighborhood of Southern California, struggled to get a good education, and fought against segregation. Marilyn Singleton is exactly what District 13 needs.

Lorraine Humes

San Pablo

Paper should reconsider its stance on Prop. 37

I am disappointed that this paper recommended no on Proposition 37.

While most people would agree Prop. 37 is not perfect, it is definitely a step in the right direction. My main reason for working day and night for yes on Prop. 37 is because I simply have the right to know the contents of the food which go into my body.

This personal choice is an issue of freedom from being bullied by multinational corporations whose bottom line is profit, not concern for the health and well-being of my body.

For what other reason than profit would major food companies invest millions of dollars to campaign against Proposition 37?

The paper should consider reconsidering its recommendation.

Barbara Christwitz

Clearlake

Maher best choice for BART board

After watching a local TV interview between the candidates for BART director District 5, I recommend challenger John Maher over the incumbent, John McPartland.

McPartland does not give the impression that he is concerned with strategic planning for BART. He said that he was surprised how fast the BART East Dublin garage parking spaces filled. Any project that has significant costs should be reviewed for "user requirements" such as sufficient parking capability, and design plans should be verified to meet these requirements.

McPartland should have participated in review processes to ensure that facilities such as sufficient parking for BART riders remained a top priority. BART must have adequate parking to promote the use of BART. He was also director during the long delay resulting from not completing the walkway to the East Dublin station that spans over Interstate 580. I think any BART director should not lose sight of being involved with activities that represent huge BART investments (such as a new station).